Tough course and longest distance to date. No gut issues the entire 50 miles!?! I managed 3rd place in my age group and top ten (8th) overall. What can I say? Even the Tarahumara were proud of my effort. This was the third consecutive weekend of running at maximal effort across a range of distances and terrain. Three weeks ago short/fast on asphalt, two weeks ago middle distance on slippery trail and this week long on sandy/technical. Results a 1st in age group, a 2nd overall (1st age group), and a 3rd age group. No injuries.

In less than a year, I have transitioned from being constantly hurt, middle-of-the- pack half-marathoner to a sub 20min 5Ker who, at least once, made the podium in a half-century. If you have been reading the blog from the beginning the question is no longer if there is a difference, but how much of a difference? Quantifying that change is going to be challenging. Metabolically, the most recent uBiome data should be back next week and I can compare the biodiversity changes vs. the changes in running times. How to quantify the inflammation and injuries vs. non-injuries is going to be harder (other than to say it is just better - much better).